Minister visits Goyt Valley

The public health minister visited High Peak on Thursday in a bid to get the nation walking.

Jane Ellison met High Peak MP Andrew Bingham and Macclesfield MP David Rutley in the Goyt Valley for a hike up Shining Tor.

The MP for Battersea decided it would be better practise what she preaches and to walk and talk about promoting exercise, rather than hold a meeting around a table.

She said: “Andrew and David are great advocates of the area and I’m a walker myself so I didn’t need a second invite. When I became public health minister, the ramblers got in touch and I though there’s no use us sitting round a table in Whitehall.

“The message we want to get across is that we don’t do enough physical exercise. We don’t want to be preachy, we want to show it can be fun.

“Most people can walk, not everyone can play sports. It’s an entry-level exercise and there’s beautiful countryside on their doorstep. The real message is let’s all get moving! It’s good for your health and wellbeing.”

Andrew agreed, adding: “The countryside is our playground and it’s free. All you need to do to get involved is pack your boots!”